Freddie Mercury, 45, Lead Singer Of the Rock Band Queen, Is Dead - NYTimes.com Freddie Mercury, 45, Lead Singer Of the Rock Band Queen, Is Dead Published: November 25, 1991 LONDON, Nov. 24— Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the hard-rock group Queen, died today at his home in Kensington here. He was 45 years old. He died of bronchopneumonia resulting from AIDS, his publicity agent said. Mr. Mercury announced on Saturday that he had AIDS. As the lead singer and lyricist for Queen, Mr. Mercury helped to forge a hugely popular hybrid of hard-rock, pop, heavy-metal, cabaret and a hint of opera. In its mid-1970's heyday, the group created an image of playful decadence while fabricating elaborate studio productions on its albums, overdubbing multiple guitar and vocal lines. Mr. Mercury strutted and preened, by turns campy and almost militaristic, at the center of Queen's stage shows. A Group's Glory Days In one of Queen's definitive hits, "Bohemian Rhapsody," Mr.

Mercury overdubbed his voice until it became a choir, with words like "Mama mia," "Galileo" and "Figaro" bouncing up and down the octaves. But he also sang dramatic solo vocals in hits like the ballad "We Are the Champions" and the mock-rockabilly song "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Queen thrived commercially from 1975, when "Killer Queen" appeared, to 1980, when the disco-style "Another One Bites the Dust" reached No. 1 on the pop-singles chart. Although Queen's commercial success waned in the 1980's, it was partly vindicated when the hook from "Under Pressure," its collaboration with David Bowie in 1982, was borrowed by the rapper Vanilla Ice for his hit single "Ice, Ice Baby." From Zanzibar to the World Stage He was one of a number of celebrities who had announced that they suffered from AIDS to try to increase the public's awareness of the disease. In a statement on the eve of his death, Mr. Mercury called on his fans around the world to join the fight against AIDS. Mr.

Mercury, whose name was originally Frederick Bulsara, was born in Zanzibar, the son of a Government accountant. He rose to fame as the bravura singer for Queen, whose elaborate and occasionally bombastic songs made the group one of the most popular in the 1970's. In addition to recording with Queen, Mr. Mercury later released solo albums, including "The Great Pretender." In recent years, he lived a secluded life and resisted responding to persistent rumors that he had AIDS. "I felt it correct to keep this information private to date in order to protect the privacy of those around me," Mr. Mercury said in a statement on Saturday. "However, the time has now come for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth, and I hope that everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease." A private cremation is to be held this week. Photo: Freddie Mercury (Agence France-Presse) Adam Lambert is the new lead singer of Queen · Newswire · The A.V.

Club Share Tweet After futzing around with intimations that Lady Gaga could become the new singer for Queen, the band has decided to get serious, drafting American Idol runner-up and anthropomorphic bottle of Manic Panic nail polish Adam Lambert to replace the late Freddie Mercury. “That’s impossible,” Lambert said regarding his replacing the late Freddie Mercury to the U.K.’s Daily Star , where he first announced his intention to replace the late Freddie Mercury. “The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some fucking great songs,” he continued about his intention to replace the late Freddie Mercury, and like so many, willfully ignoring Paul Rodgers. Conveniently headline-grabbing Gaga rumors aside, speculation that Lambert might be Queen’s top choice for the job had run rampant ever since the band backed established Queen fan Lambert during a 2009 Idol appearance—which you can see below by placing a thumb over the face of actual Idol winner Kris Allen, who is definitely not the new lead singer of Queen—followed by a performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards last November.

The Lambert-led, slightly tongue-ier version of Queen will debut at this summer’s Sonisphere Festival, with future performances and even possibly recordings to be worked in around Lambert’s solo career—which, coincidentally, includes a new album that just happens to see release next month. So, the timing on that worked out pretty well for everybody. [via Rolling Stone ] The Tragic Life of Freddie Mercury The Tragic Life of Freddie Mercury by David J. Stewart The Spirit of Sodomy "The end-times spirit of Sodom was also evident in the events surrounding THE DEATH OF FREDDIE MERCURY (real name Frederick Bulsara), lead singer for the rock group Queen. Mercury was bi-sexual, and the group flaunted immorality and rebellion against biblical laws. Many of Queen's hard-rocking songs perennially remain popular rock anthems in sports stadiums and other forums. These include "We Will Rock You," "We Are Champions," and "Another One Bites the Dust." Their song "We Are the Champions" is an unofficial anthem of the homosexual liberation movement. Many of their songs are filthy and vile.

Freddie Mercury said, "We want to shock and be outrageous" (Circus, April 1974). He whipped "concert audiences into a frenzy with erotic body contortions. Their tours have featured snake charmers, strippers, transvestites, and a naked lady (Larson's Book of Rock, p. 179). Drummer Roger Taylor said, "I'd love to own a whorehouse." The group staged an all-female nude bicycle race in 1978. Freddie Mercury died in November 1991 of AIDS. Five months later, 72,000 fans of this lascivious rock musician gathered for a memorial at Wembly Stadium. It was called the "Concert for Life" and featured Elton John, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Axl Rose and other immoral, anti-Christ rock stars. It was estimated that ONE BILLION people viewed the event on television worldwide!" ï¿½David W. Cloud "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen" ï¿½Jude 20-25. Freddie Mercury (real name ï¿½ Frederick Farookh Bulsara), lead singer of the legendary rock band Queen, died of AIDS at only 45 years of age on November 24th, 1991. How tragic! It was alleged that Freddie Mercury had homosexual lovers all around the world. One simply go no further than a simple web search to discover that Mercury was openly bisexual. It is not surprising that Mr. Bulsara died because of AIDS.

Queen's music is idolized today by the homosexual community, with such hits as "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy." False Religion Even more tragic is the fact that Freddie Mercury was a follower of false religion called Zoroastrianism and not the Lord Jesus Christ. The following is an account of Freddie Mercury's funeral... "Just like Mercury himself, the occasion [of his funeral], which the singer had spent weeks planning in meticulous detail, was a bewildering mixture of flamboyance and secrecy, witnessing the collision of two very different worlds--the modern world of rock music and the ancient world of the Zoroastrian religion, in which Mercury had been brought up. Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest and most exclusive religions. Founded by the prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) in 600 B.C., it has only 120,000 members worldwide and just 6,000 in Britain. Its followers see life as a battle between two spirits, Spenta Mainyu, the "Bounteous Spirit," and Angra Mainyu, the "Destructive Spirit." Whichever one a Zoroastrian lives his life by determines where he or she goes to after death.

The final resting place is the Zoroastrian equivalent to the Christian heaven or hell. As Mercury's oak coffin was carried into the chapel, covererd in a satin sheet and topped with a single red rose, Zoroastrian priests, dressed in white muslin robes and caps, chanted traditional prayers to their god Ahura Mazda, also known as the Wise Lord, for the salvation of the singer's soul. Throughout the twenty-five minute service, conducted totally in the ancient Avestan langauge, the priests used no word of English other than commands to the forty mourners to stand and sit. Mercury had insisted on his funeral being a private, low-key affair, and the magical ancient ceremony was attended only by extremely close friends and family, as he had wished. The singer's parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, wept throughout as did Mary Austin and Elton John. Among the other tearful mourners were sixties drummer turned impresario Dave Clark, the three remaining members of Queen, and Brian May's girlfriend, former EastEnders' soap star Anita Dobson.

Just after nine on that cold wintry morning, a gleaming black Rolls-Royce carrying the coffin in which Mercury's body lay drove slowly into the grounds of the West London crematorium in Kensal Rise." -- SOURCE: Rick Sky, The Show Must Go On: The Life of Freddie Mercury, Citadel Press/Carol Publishing Group: New York City, NY (1994), pages 8-9 Freddie Mercury spent weeks planning his own funeral, but failed to prepare his soul to meet God. The Word of God plainly teaches that ONLY through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can anyone go to Heaven. Freddie Mercury placed in faith in false religion, and NOT upon Jesus Christ. This is so tragic! Read the following phrase from the above article again, "Zoroastrian priests, dressed in white muslin robes and caps, chanted traditional prayers to their god Ahura Mazda, also known as the Wise Lord, for the salvation of the singer's soul." Freddie Mercury is not in Heaven according to the Bible, he is in Hell suffering. Why? Because he was a homosexual? No! It's because Freddie Mercury did not obey the Gospel of Christ...

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." ï¿½ 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9 God is not pleased by the death of the wicked... "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" ï¿½ Ezekiel 33:11 Riches Without God Oh how foolish are the sinful and rebellious hearts of men and women against the Lord that created them! Freddie Mercury left behind an estate valued at $15,500,000 to his family and friends. Freddie lived a reckless life of sodomy, fornication, illegal drugs and materialism. Mercury died in London in his $4,000,000 home in 1991. He carried none of his wealth beyond the grave.

He had such a beautiful voice, but used his talents for the devil. How sad! How tragic! Where is Freddie Mercury now? Hell! My friend, you don't have to go to Hell. Jesus shed His blood to pay for the sins of mankind. I did not write this article to criticize Freddie Mercury. I wrote this article to express two observations I've made about Mr. Mercury's life: first, a life of booze, immorality, and devilish music always end in judgment; and second, all of Mercury's fame, wealth, and friends cannot help help him escape the wrath of God. ALL Christ-rejecters go straight to Hell to be tormented in fire. I say this with great sadness, but it is the TRUTH nonetheless. I ask you to believe upon Jesus now as your Saviour. The Biblical doctrine and reality of God's wrath has been abandoned in America's pulpits.

Psalm 7:11, ï¿½God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.ï¿½ Adam Lambert: I'm new lead singer of Queen - NY Daily News Adam Lambert says he’s Queen’s new lead singer, filling shoes of his idol, the late Freddie Mercury Adam Lambert: I'm new lead singer of Queen He will, he will rock you: Adam Lambert will follow Freddie Mercury as the front man for Queen. (Amy Graves/WireImage) Friday, February 3, 2012, 5:30 PM The surviving members of Queen have found a new “Somebody to Love.” One-time “American Idol” runnerup Adam Lambert will be the classic rock band’s new lead singer, the singer told UK’s Daily Star. The 30-year-old singer will be filling pretty big platform boots. Lambert has said that one of his idols was Queen’s original front man, Freddie Mercury , widely considered one of the greatest vocalists in rock history. “The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some great songs,” Lambert told the Daily Star.

“It’s to keep the music alive for the fans and give it an energy that Freddie would've been proud of.” Mercury, who died at age 45 of complications from AIDS-related complications in 1991, was the soaring voice behind hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are the Champions.” Queen has toured with former Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers behind the mic, but hadn’t named a permanent replacement until now. While Lambert is known as pop singer, he rocked critics singing with the band during a Queens-themed 2009 “American Idol” show. Freddie Mercury - Biography - IMDb Freddie Mercury Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Trade Mark (9) | Trivia (60) | Personal Quotes (54) Overview (4) 5' 9½" (1.77 m) Mini Bio (1) Freddie Mercury was born on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, sent him off to a private school in India, from 1955 til 1963. In 1964 Freddie and his family flew to England.

Freddie was very delighted to come to England. In 1966 he started his education at the Ealing College of Art, where he graduated in 1969. He loved art, and because of that, he often went along with his friend Tim Staffell, who played in a band called Smile. Also in this band where Brian May and Roger Taylor . When Staffell left the band in 1970, Freddie became their new singer. He changed the band's name into Queen , and they took on a new bass-player in February 1971, called John Deacon . Their first album, "Queen", came out in 1973. But their real breakthrough was "Killer Queen", on the album "Sheer Heart Attack", which was released in 1974. They became immortal with the single "Bohemian Rhapsody", on the 1975 album "A Night At The Opera". After setting foot in the US in 1980, with "Another One Bites The Dust", they had a bad period. Their album "Flash Gordon" went down the drain, because the movie Flash Gordon (1980) flunked.

Their next, "Hot Space", also wasn't a great success. Only the song "Under Pressure", which they sang together with David Bowie , made a difference. In 1983, they took a year off. But, in 1984 they were totally back with their new album, called "The Works". It contained great hits, such as "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want To Break Free". In 1985 Freddie made his first big solo-album, "Mr. Bad Guy". He and the band had been in a bit of an argument, and he wanted to do something on his own. The album was loved by the fans, but didn't do to well. But the band got back together again, after their famous performance at Live Aid, in 1985. At the end of the year, they started working on their new album, "A Kind Of Magic". They also held their most famous tour ever, the "Magic Tour". They did Wembley Stadium twice, and held their very last concert in Knebworth, in front of 125.000 people. After 1986, it went silent around Queen.

It was in 1987 or '88, when Freddie told the band he had AIDS, and only had a few years to live. After Freddie told the band, he refused to talk about it anymore. He was afraid that people would buy their records out of pity. He said he wanted to keep making music as long as possible. And he did. His second big solo-album, "The Great Pretender", got out in 1987. After that, he flew to Spain, where he made the magnificent album "Barcelone", together with Montserrat Caballé , whom he saw performing in 1983. Because Freddie loved opera, he became a huge fan of her. For him, this album was like a dream becoming reality. The single "Barcelona" went huge, and was also used as a theme song for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. After Barcelona, he started working with the band again. They made "The Miracle", which was released in 1989. It was a success, with hits as "Breakthru", "I Want It All" and "The Invisible Man". After "The Miracle", Freddie's health got worse.

They wanted to do one more album, called "Innuendo." They worked on it in 1990 and early 1991. Every time when Freddie would feel well, he came over to the studio and sang. After "Innuendo" was released in January 1991, they made two video clips. The first one was the video clip of "I'm Going Slightly Mad", shot in March 1991. Because Freddie was very thin, and had little wounds all over his body, they used a lot of make-up. He wore a wig, and the clip was shot in black and white. Freddie's final video clip was released in June 1991. The clip, "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", later turned out to be his goodbye song, the last time he appeared on film. You could clearly see he was ill, but he still hadn't told the world about his disease. Rumours went around that he some kind of terrible disease. This rumor was confirmed by Freddie himself, one day before he passed on. His death was seen as a great loss for the world of music.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Arjan@arjanpijper.myweb.nl Trade Mark (9) Sings with the top half of microphone stand Loved to do a vocal duet with the crowd, especially before "Under Pressure" Placing microphone under his belt Wide-ranging, multi-octave, powerful pseudo-operatic vocals Mustache Energetic and dynamic moves during live performances which covered the whole stage Outrageous camp performances and colorful costumes Balletic turns on stage Trivia (60) He was a staunch supporter of the British monarchy and named the band Queen as both a reference to this and for the word's sexual innuendo. His ancestors, the Parsees, originated in Persia and fled to India in the 7th century. The reason being they are Zoroastrians and did not want to get converted to Islam. Lead singer and keyboard player of the rock group Queen . Chose not to to get corrective oral surgery to fix his famous overbite (caused by the presence of four extra teeth which pushed his incisors out). He commented early in his career that he wished to have work done on his teeth, but regretted that he didn't have time to do it out of fear that it would damage his voice.

Also, chose not to have surgery to remove polyps on his vocal cords for the same reason. Ironically, Freddie was a smoker. Attended Ealing College of Art. When the rock group Smile (formed by Brian May with Roger Taylor and Tim Stafell) split, Freddie joined Brian and Roger to form Queen . In his will, Mercury left the vast majority of his wealth (including his mansion home and recording royalties) to Mary Austin a woman he had a close friendship with (and once had a relationship with). The remainder was left to his parents and sister. He also left £500,000 to his chef Joe Fanelli, £500,000 to his personal assistant Peter Freestone , £100,000 to his driver Terry Giddings , and £500,000 to his partner Jim Hutton . Attended many operas and released a semi-classical album with Spanish opera diva Montserrat Caballé . Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 as a member of Queen .

Sang a duet of "Tutti Frutti" with Marillion front man Fish at the Mungersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, West Germany. [July 1986] Was an avid and fastidious philatelist (stamp collector). His extensive collection is still exhibited at stamp shows world-wide as being under the estate of his birth name. Loved his cats, and dedicated his solo-album "Mr. Bad Guy" to them. When he was out touring, he used to phone his cats and talk to them for hours. On one of his waistcoats, he has painted portraits of all of his cats. He was educated at St. Peter's boarding school near Bombay, India, where he had his first musical training (grade four piano, both in practical and theory) and also his first experience of performing onstage, with his band, the Hectics. It was at St. Peter's where he picked up the name 'Freddie', soon even his parents addressed him by that name.

His song "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) was named Britain's favourite pop single of all time on 2002 in a poll by Guinness World Records (GWR). More than 31,000 people voted in the poll for GWR's "British Hit Singles" book. After a revolution in Zanzibar, he and his family were forced to flee to England, where he pursued a Diploma in Art and Graphic Design. This knowledge was to come in useful when he designed Queen's famous crest. Came in 58th place in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. [2002] While buried in the Zoroastrian tradition, Freddie, himself, seldom practiced the family religion. Was an ardent fan of Jimi Hendrix . Designed Queen 's famous crest using his and his fellow band mates' birth signs: Two lions for Roger and John (Leo), a crab for Brian (Cancer), and two fairies for himself (Virgo). Had a vocal range of 4 octaves. Achieved grade IV in practical piano and theory. Was of Persian descent. His ancestors were Persians who fled to India.

Said that Aretha Franklin was one of his favorite singers. There is a breed of yellow rose named after him. Loved cats, and owned many of them. The song "Delilah" is written about his favorite. His baby photo won photograph of the year in 1947 in his hometown. He was diagnosed HIV positive in the spring of 1987. Despite being a classically trained pianist, he admitted in an interview (Melody Maker, 2 May 1981) that he could read "very little" sheet music. Queen won the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution in 1990. All four members of the band came to the stage to accept the award. It was Mercury's last appearance in front of an audience. Queen won the 1992 Brit Award for British Single for their song "These Are The Days of Our Lives" and Mercury was the posthumous winner of the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution. Only John Lennon , Paul McCartney and Sting have also managed to win the Outstanding Contribution Award as both a member of a band and as an individual.

Queen were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. [November 2004] Was a huge fan of actress and Broadway star Liza Minnelli . Wrote "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" in the bathtub. Penned the hits "Killer Queen", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Somebody To Love", and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". Survived by Jim Hutton , his partner since 1985. Released his first solo album, "Mr. Bad Guy", in 1985. While living in Asia,he listened to many Indian artists. Upon arriving in England, he was very influenced by British bands like The Beatles, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin. Used a piano as a headboard for his bed and taught himself to play the piano backwards so if a song idea popped into his head when lying in bed, he could reach backwards and play it or record it. Queen was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6356 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

He was voted the No.1 'Greatest Singer In Rock' by Classic Rock magazine (May 2009/Issue 131). Queen 's performance at Live Aid (1985) was voted the "World's Greatest Concert" in a 2005 poll for Channel 4 in the U.K. The historic gig fought off competition from Jimi Hendrix 's 1969 Woodstock show in second place and The Sex Pistols ' raucous show at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1976. His favorite movies were Some Like It Hot (1959), George Cukor 's The Women (1939) and Imitation of Life (1959) with Lana Turner . In September 2010, he was named as "The Greatest Rock Legend Of All Time" in a poll for OnePoll.com, beating the King of Rock N'Roll, Elvis Presley , into second place. Following the announcement of his death, tributes came from some of the biggest names in the British music industry. David Bowie said: "We'll all miss him a lot.

Together with his band Queen he made a great contribution to popular music." George Michael said: "Freddie Mercury was a huge source of inspiration to me as a child. I religiously attended Queen's concerts year after year. This is a sad day." Phil Collins said: "This is a great tragedy. I had the greatest admiration and a lot of affection for him." Elton John said: "Freddie Mercury was an incredible, innovative singer and frontman for a band. He was a very dear friend of mine and it was a privilege to have known him for some of his life. He was very funny, he was extremely outrageous, he was very kind and he was a great musician and one of the great frontmen of rock and roll bands." In a concert the next day, Sting dedicated his song "Shadows in the Rain" to Mercury. Freddie and Eric Carr (second drummer for KISS) passed away within hours of each other on the very same day of November 24, 1991. Mercury died from AIDS. Eric died from cancer, which led to a brain hemorrhage.

In 2007, over 2,400 music fans were asked by O2 to vote for their dream supergroup. They chose Mercury as lead singer, Jimi Hendrix on lead guitar, Elton John on piano and Phil Collins on drums. He once gave the actor Dustin Hoffman a guided tour of his mansion as Hoffman was thinking of hiring the same designer, Robin Moore-Ede, to renovate an old house he had bought in London. Mercury is the second most impersonated rock and roll performer in the UK after Elvis Presley . Shared an apartment with Barbara Valentin in Hans Sachs Straße, Munich, Germany, during the 1980s. Older brother of Kashmira Cooke . He wrote the Queen song "Love of my Life" about Mary Austin . In 1973, while Queen were recording their first album, Freddie Mercury released a single under the name Larry Lurex. The name is a pun of glam rock star Gary Glitter's name and the metallic yarn Lurex. The songs on the single were covers of The Beach Boys "I Can Hear Music" and The Byrds "Goin' Back".

Mercury recorded "The Show Must Go On" two months before his death to AIDS. Barely being able to stand because of his illness, Brian May told Mercury that he would sing the vocals for him. Mercury refused, mustered all of his strength, and sang his first take perfectly. Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Music & Arts. He didn't socialize with the other members of Queen because he had different interests, such as spending time on the gay scene and visiting ballet and opera productions. He had a huge crush on the film star Burt Reynolds and liked men who had a similar rugged look. He disliked giving interviews and rarely spoke to the press. He only trusted a select group of journalists. He went to college with Bollywood Legend actress Kumkum's husband Sajjad's brother, Zahid. Zahid Abrar and Feddie had a band in Bombay called "The Hectics". They played at local schools, parties and restaurants. Zahid appeared in the Feddie Mercury documentary released in 2000.

Zahid Ali Abrar's son is a leading Bollywood director by the name of Hadi Abar. Personal Quotes (54) If I didn't do this well, I just wouldn't have anything to do...I can't cook, and I'd be a terrible housewife. I'm just a musical prostitute my dear The bigger the better; in everything. Years ago, I thought up the name Queen...It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid...It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. [speaking in 1974] I am as gay as a daffodil. [on Mary Austin, late 1970s interview] All my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary but it's simply impossible. The only friend I've got is Mary and I don't want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, thats enough for me.

I couldn't fall in love with a man the same way as I have with Mary. [statement released on 23 November 1991] Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I have tested HIV positive and have AIDS. I felt it correct to keep this information private in order to protect the privacy of those around me. However, the time has come for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with me in the fight against this terrible disease. Oh, I was not made for heaven. No, I don't want to go to heaven. Hell is much better. Think of all the interesting people you're going to meet down there! Modern paintings are like women, you'll never enjoy them if you try to understand them. I think I'm totally original. I'm sure there are many people who see themselves in me, but that's to them. I'm me, basically, and that's how I like to be. My voice takes a beating. The more vocal gymnastics I do in the studio, the more I have to do on stage. The Carmen Miranda of rock 'n' roll. But what can I say?

I'm a flamboyant personality. I like going out and having a good time. Oh God, I pray I'll never get AIDS. So many friends have it. Some have died, others won't last much longer. I'm terrified that I'll be next. Immediately after each time I have sex I think, 'Suppose that was the one? Suppose the virus is now in my body? I jump in the shower and scrub myself clean, although I know it's useless and anyway it's too late. Fame and success have brought me everything, except a loving, on-going relationship. I seem to eat people up and destroy them no matter how hard I try to make things work. Sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat, screaming with fear because I'm so alone. That's why I go out looking for someone who will love me, even if it's just for a one-night stand. I fall in love far too quickly, and I end up getting hurt and scarred. It seems I just can't win. I am a manipulator of life. I have to go out every night. I hate staying in one room for too long anyway. I just like to keep moving.

[on his band Queen ] We're in the music business. It's in my blood. The only thing I can do is to write music and perform. That's what I'm going to be doing and I think all of us are going to be doing until we die. I'm not married to music, I'm married to love. I always knew I was a star, and now the rest of the world seems to agree with me. I'm a very tragic person, but there's always an element of humour at the end. The most important thing, darling, is to live a fabulous life. As long as it's fabulous, I don't care how long it is. I don't think I'll make old bones and I don't care. I've lived a full life. I really have done it all and if I'm dead tomorrow I don't care a damn One of my early inspirations came from Cabaret (1972). I absolutely adore Liza Minnelli , she's a total wow. The way she delivers her songs, the sheer energy, the way the lights enhance every movement of the show. I think you can see similarities in the excitement and energy of a Queen show.

It's not glam rock, you see; we're in the show-business tradition. [on Queen ] We're the bitchiest band on earth, darling. We're at each other's throats. One night Roger Taylor was in a foul mood and he threw his entire bloody drum set across the stage. The thing only just missed me - I might have been killed. I don't like to explain what I was thinking when I wrote a song. I think that's awful, just awful. When I'm dead, I want to be remembered as a musician of some worth and substance. I like to enjoy myself and what better way to do it than on stage in front of 300,000 people? [admitting his sexual promiscuity] I'm just an old slag who gets up every morning, scratches his head and wonders what he wants to fuck. I love George Michael because he moves so well and has a sense of dignity and fun. Something like Bohemian Rhapsody didn't just come out of thin air. I did a bit of research, although it was tongue-in-cheek and it was mock-opera. Why not? I certainly wasn't saying I was an opera fanatic and I knew everything about it.

I don't want to keep playing the same formula over and over again, otherwise you just go insane. I don't want to become stale. I want to be creative. I'm a flamboyant person. I like to live life. I certainly work hard for it, and I want to have a good time. Don't deny me that. It might not come again and I want to enjoy myself a little. I liked to sing, I don't know, call it natural gift or whatever, you know, I'm not afraid to say it. It's just I like to sing and then I suddenly realized that I could actually write songs and then make my own music rather than before I would, you know, sort of copy Elvis Presley songs and things as I do, then I realized that I could actually write my own songs and do it my own way. Then suddenly, you know, there was a little taste of success. In terms of press and things, I'm a very hated person, but I hate the press as well. So that goes both ways, but to me I think I've learned to live with it.

I'd be a liar to say I'm not hurt by criticism because I mean everybody is, you know, of course I want everybody to say I'm wonderful and they like my songs, but I mean I don't mind actually a sort of genuine well thought out criticism, but I mean of course you're going to get... just... people review our albums without even listening to them and things like that, but I mean that's the way of the world and before I used to get really mad and start tearing my hair out but now I don't have anymore sleepless nights, so just I learned to live with it. Let them all come. It's lovely to hear that We Are The Champions is a song that's been taken up by, you know, football fans 'cause that's a winners' song which keeps coming back, I can't believe that somebody else hasn't written a new song to take it over. I relax in ways most people can't understand. I can relax by actually just sleeping on a plane when I'm flying for 20 minutes, that's my relaxation. That's all I need. I don't need too much sleep.

I don't, you know, I don't need tons of sleep, I can go with 3 or 4 hours sleep every night. That's enough for me. I recharge my batteries in that short a time and I'm up again. When I'm dead are they going to remember me ? I don't really think about it, it's up to them. When I'm dead, who cares ? I don't. [on Jimi Hendrix ] He really had everything a rock & roll star should have - style, presence; he didn't have to force anything. He'd just make an entrance and the whole place would be on fire. He was living out everything I wanted to be. [speaking at his last concert with Queen at Knebworth Park, August 9th, 1986] Earlier on there were rumors of us splitting up, but I mean - fuck 'em - how can you split up when you have an audience like this? [on rumors he had AIDS] AIDS changed my life. I was extremely promiscuous but I stopped that. Anyone who is promiscuous should have a test. I'm fine. I'm clear.

[on Manhattan in the 1980s] It's sin city, but you have to come away at the right time. Stay a day too long, and it grips you. Very hypnotic. It's all tripping in at 8 or 9 every morning, and taking throat injections so I can still sing. It's a real place. I love it. [on what other people thought his songs were about] If you hear it, darling, then it's there. We started off on a sort of heavy metal footing in the days of Led Zeppelin . I think Led Zeppelin are still one of the greatest heavy metal bands that ever lived. [in 1985] I think right now George Michael is very, very good. Stevie Wonder , writing a ballad, you just can't top that guy. A concert is not a live rendition of our album. It's a theatrical event. I have fun with my clothes onstage; it's not a concert you're seeing, it's a fashion show. I've worked hard for money. Nobody's given it to me dear! I've earned it so it's mine to do what I want with.

So if I want a pyramid in Kensington and I can afford it, I'll have it. [after "I Want to Break Free" became a gay liberation anthem] To start off with, that song was written by John Deacon and he's a very happily married man with about four children. I don't know where you've got that message from, it's got nothing to do with gay people at all. It's basically about everybody, it's just somebody who has a very tough life and he just wants to break free from whatever problems he's got. It's got nothing to do with the gay thing. [referring to his time in Munich and his love for the Bavarian carnival] I live life to the full, everyday is Fasching for me. Paul Young 's very good. He does a lot of covers, though, doesn't he? I mean, he's got a beautiful voice. I don't know about his writing talent. His cover versions seem to be the best. [on "We Are The World" by USA for Africa] It's a very good song.

I think it's a beautiful song and I was gripped by the video 'cos I mean it's nice to have all those stars, there were no ego trips, to be honest, going from one to the other, it was lovely to see all those stars all together. [in a 1984 interview, 7 years before his death] What will I be doing in twenty years' time? I'll be dead, darling! Are you crazy? [after playing with Queen to 500,000 people over two nights at Brazil's Rock In Rio Festival in 1985] We came to South America originally because we were invited down. They wanted four wholesome lads to play some nice music. Now I'd like to buy up the entire continent and install myself as President. [on heavy metal fans who don't like anything else] That's their problem. [complimenting David Bowie on his immaculate powder blue suit at Live Aid (1985)] If I didn't know you any better I'd have to eat you. See also Queen | New Music And Songs | Queen About Queen Few bands embodied the pure excess of the '70s like Queen.

Embracing the exaggerated pomp of prog rock and heavy metal, as well as vaudevillian music hall, the British quartet delved deeply into camp and bombast, creating a huge, mock-operatic sound with layered guitars and overdubbed vocals. Queen's music was a bizarre yet highly accessible fusion of the macho and the fey. For years, their albums boasted the motto "no synthesizers were used on this record," signaling their allegiance with the legions of post-Led Zeppelin hard rock bands. But vocalist Freddie Mercury brought an extravagant sense of camp to Queen, pushing them toward kitschy humor and pseudo-classical arrangements, as epitomized on their best-known song, "Bohemian Rhapsody." Mercury, it must be said, was a flamboyant bisexual who managed to keep his sexuality in the closet until his death from AIDS in 1991. Through his legendary theatrical performances, Queen became one of the most popular bands in the world in the mid-'70s; in England, they remained second only to the Beatles in popularity and collectibility in the '90s.

Despite their enormous popularity, Queen were never taken seriously by rock critics -- an infamous Rolling Stone review labeled their 1979 album Jazz as "fascist." In spite of such harsh criticism, the band's popularity rarely waned; even in the late '80s, the group retained a fanatical following except in America. In the States, their popularity peaked in the early '80s, just as they finished nearly a decade's worth of extraordinarily popular records. And while those records were never praised, they sold in enormous numbers, and traces of Queen's music could be heard in several generations of hard rock and metal bands in the next two decades, from Metallica to Smashing Pumpkins. The origins of Queen lay in the hard rock psychedelic group Smile, which guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor joined in 1967. Following the departure of Smile's lead vocalist, Tim Staffell, in 1971, May and Taylor formed a group with Freddie Mercury, the former lead singer for Wreckage. Within a few months, bassist John Deacon joined them, and they began rehearsing.

Over the next two years, as all four members completed college, they simply rehearsed, playing just a handful of gigs. By 1973, they had begun to concentrate on their career, releasing their debut album, Queen, that year and setting out on their first tour. Queen was more or less a straight metal album and failed to receive much acclaim, but Queen II became an unexpected British breakthrough early in 1974. Before its release, the band played Top of the Pops, performing "Seven Seas of Rhye." Both the song and the performance were smash successes, and the single rocketed into the Top Ten, setting the stage for Queen II to reach number five. Following its release, the group embarked on its first American tour, supporting Mott the Hoople. On the strength of their campily dramatic performances, the album climbed to number 43 in the States. Queen released their third album, Sheer Heart Attack, before the end of 1974. The music hall-meets-Zeppelin "Killer Queen" climbed to number two on the U.K. charts, taking the album to number two as well.

Sheer Heart Attack made some inroads in America as well, setting the stage for the breakthrough of 1975's A Night at the Opera. Queen labored long and hard over the record; according to many reports, it was the most expensive rock record ever made at the time of its release. The first single from the record, "Bohemian Rhapsody," became Queen's signature song, and with its bombastic, mock-operatic structure punctuated by heavy metal riffing, it encapsulates their music. It is also the symbol for their musical excesses -- the song took three weeks to record, and there were so many vocal overdubs on the record that it was possible to see through the tape at certain points. To support "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen shot one of the first conceptual music videos, and the gamble paid off as the single spent nine weeks at number one in England, breaking the record for the longest run at number one. The song and A Night at the Opera were equally successful in America, as the album climbed into the Top Ten and quickly went platinum. Following A Night at the Opera, Queen were established as superstars, and they quickly took advantage of all their status had to offer.

Their parties and indulgence quickly became legendary in the rock world, yet they continued to work at a rapid rate. In the summer of 1976, they performed a free concert at London's Hyde Park that broke attendance records, and they released the hit single "Somebody to Love" a few months later. It was followed by A Day at the Races, which was essentially a scaled-down version of A Night at the Opera that reached number one in the U.K. and number five in the U.S. They continued to pile up hit singles in both Britain and America over the next five years, as each of their albums went into the Top Ten, always going gold and usually platinum in the process. Because Queen embraced such mass success and adoration, they were scorned by the rock press, especially when they came to represent all of the worst tendencies of the old guard in the wake of punk. Nevertheless, the public continued to buy Queen records. Featuring the Top Five double-A-sided single "We Are the Champions"/"We Will Rock You," News of the World became a Top Ten hit in 1977.

The following year, Jazz nearly replicated that success, with the single "Fat Bottomed Girls"/"Bicycle Race" becoming an international hit despite the massive bad publicity surrounding their media stunt of staging a nude female bicycle race. Queen were at the height of their popularity as they entered the '80s, releasing The Game, their most diverse album to date, in 1980. On the strength of two number one singles -- the campy rockabilly "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and the disco-fied "Another One Bites the Dust" -- The Game became the group's first American number one album. However, the bottom fell out of the group's popularity, particularly in the U.S., shortly afterward. Their largely instrumental soundtrack to Flash Gordon was coldly received later in 1980. With the help of David Bowie, Queen were able to successfully compete with new wave with the 1981 hit single "Under Pressure" -- their first U.K. number one since "Bohemian Rhapsody" -- which was included both on their 1981 Greatest Hits and 1982's Hot Space.

Instead of proving the group's vitality, "Under Pressure" was a last gasp. Hot Space was only a moderate hit, and the more rock-oriented The Works (1984) also was a minor hit, with only "Radio Ga Ga" receiving much attention. Shortly afterward, they left Elektra and signed with Capitol. Faced with their decreased popularity in the U.S. and waning popularity in Britain, Queen began touring foreign markets, cultivating a large, dedicated fan base in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, continents that most rock groups ignored. In 1985, they returned to popularity in Britain in the wake of their showstopping performance at Live Aid. The following year, they released A Kind of Magic to strong European sales, but they failed to make headway in the States. The same fate befell 1989's The Miracle, yet 1991's Innuendo was greeted more favorably, going gold and peaking at number 30 in the U.S. Nevertheless, it still was a far bigger success in Europe, entering the U.K. charts at number one.

By 1991, Queen had drastically scaled back their activity, causing many rumors to circulate about Freddie Mercury's health. On November 23, he issued a statement confirming that he was stricken with AIDS; he died the next day. The following spring, the remaining members of Queen held a memorial concert at Wembley Stadium that was broadcast to an international audience of more than one billion. Featuring such guest artists as David Bowie, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Def Leppard, and Guns N' Roses, the concert raised millions for the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which was established for AIDS awareness. The concert coincided with a revival of interest in "Bohemian Rhapsody," which climbed to number two in the U.S. and number one in the U.K. in the wake of its appearance in the Mike Myers comedy Wayne's World. Following Mercury's death, the remaining members of Queen were fairly quiet. Brian May released his second solo album, Back to the Light, in 1993, ten years after the release of his first record. Roger Taylor cut a few records with the Cross, which he had been playing with since 1987, while Deacon essentially retired.

The three reunited in 1994 to record backing tapes for vocal tracks Mercury recorded on his deathbed. The resulting album, Made in Heaven, was released in 1995 to mixed reviews and strong sales, particularly in Europe. Crown Jewels, a box set repackaging their first eight LPs, followed in 1998. Archival live recordings, DVDs, and compilations kept appearing through the new millennium. The Queen name was revived in 2005, but this time with "+ Paul Rodgers" appended to it. Rodgers, the former lead singer of Free and Bad Company, joined Brian May and Roger Taylor (John Deacon remained retired) for several live shows, one of which was documented on 2005's Return of the Champions, a double-disc release issued by the Hollywood label. International touring continued, as did a new studio album featuring Rodgers' vocals. Released under the "Queen + Paul Rodgers" tag, The Cosmos Rocks appeared in September 2008, followed by an American release one month later. Reception was decidedly mixed. Rodgers departed from Queen in 2009 and in his wake came a new compilation called Absolute Greatest.

TV appearances followed over the next two years, including a spot on the 2009 American Idol finale where they performed with Adam Lambert, and then in 2010 Queen wound up leaving their home of EMI for Island, which brought all of the group's recordings to Universal Records. A new round of reissues followed in 2011, along with a performance with Lambert at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and the vocalist soon became a fixture with the band, as Queen performed several big concerts and television performances in 2012 and 2013, followed by a full tour in 2014. Also that year, Queen released another compilation, Queen Forever, which was anchored by reworked versions of three old songs, including a solo number by Mercury where he duetted with Michael Jackson. The archival live album, A Night at the Odeon, featuring the band's 1975 Christmas Eve performance at London's Hammersmith Odeon, appeared in 2015.

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Queen's new singer on why he's ready to step into Mercury's shoes | Daily Mail Online comments Flamboyant: Adam Lambert in concert He grew up listening to his parents’ Queen albums and once auditioned for the musical We Will Rock You. So when Brian May and Roger Taylor were looking for someone to step into Freddie Mercury’s boots for a series of summer concerts, they made an inspired choice in selecting former American Idol finalist Adam Lambert. The U.S. superstar is seen as a new Robbie Williams, but his flamboyant style and spectacular vocal range also make him perfect for Queen — and he’ll be doing the fandango with them in London next month. Adam, 30, has already sung with the rock legends: on American Idol and during last year’s MTV EMA Awards in Belfast. He says: ‘You can’t replace Freddie. But playing with Queen is the best thing that could happen to me, and my intention is to pay tribute to Freddie.

‘We want to keep the music alive and give it an energy that would have made him proud.’ In addition to three nights at the Hammersmith Apollo, Lambert will appear with Queen in Russia and Poland — and there is a possibility of more dates. According to guitarist May, he has been picked for his ‘extraordinary’ voice, while drummer Taylor predicts ‘fireworks’ once the shows start. Lambert takes a more down-to-earth view, saying he is joining the band to learn from rock royalty. ‘When I auditioned for We Will Rock You in the States, I prepared songs like I Want To Break Free,’ he says. ‘I did my homework. ‘Now I’m looking forward to spending time with Brian and Roger. I want to make myself familiar with their more obscure songs and hear some stories from the guys themselves. I’ll get my own personal Queen documentary.’ RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Adam, who is gay, says he can relate to the problems Mercury faced over his sexuality during Queen’s heyday. Lambert came out publicly during the rounds of American Idol in 2009, and there were suspicions it cost him public votes (he lost narrowly in the final to Kris Allen).

He admits it was ‘possible’ his sexuality had an impact on the result, but says the pressure on Mercury was far greater. ‘It wasn’t easy for him to come out in the Seventies. But the big irony is that it was easier for him to be flamboyant when he was performing. ‘Today it is the opposite. I’m one of the few openly gay pop artists in the States, but people find it harder to accept anything flamboyant on stage. Pop is very macho now, and the mainstream shies away from anything too camp.’ Iconic: The late Freddie Mercury performing during a Queen concert Lambert also has the welcome problem of balancing his Queen commitments with a burgeoning solo career. He’ll shortly release his second album, Trespassing, and a new single, Never Close Our Eyes, in the UK. The album, on which he has collaborated with dance producer Pharrell Williams, Chic bassist Nile Rodgers and singers Sam Sparro and Bruno Mars, has already topped the charts in his homeland. It is more considered than his first album, For Your Entertainment, blending darker, reflective tracks with quality pop songs and high-octane dance numbers that owe something to Off The Wall-era Michael Jackson.

Adam says: ‘American Idol was a popularity contest so I had to lay on the charm. Now I’m lifting the veil to show the parts that aren’t so easy to digest.’ Raised in San Diego, California, Adam became an actor by the time he was ten. He was touring with a production of the musical Wicked when he joined a rock band and eventually applied to American Idol, where he sang Bohemian Rhapsody at his audition. ‘I knew that talent shows weren’t cool but I thought it might convince a label to invest in me,’ he says. He is now looking forward to hitting the road. He is playing a solo set in aid of children’s charity Rays Of Sunshine in London next week before he gets ready to be Freddie. As for any further dates with Queen, Adam is remaining tight-lipped. ‘Working with them is going to be a great honour,’ he says. ‘But I’m also very keen for people to hear my own music, so who knows what the future will hold?’ n Adam Lambert plays the the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday alongside Leona Lewis. He appears with Queen at Hammersmith Apollo on July 11, 12 and 14 (ticketzone.co.uk).

His new single, Never Close Our Eyes, is out on June 24. Queen and Adam Lambert Reunite for Summer Tour - Rolling Stone Brian May Talks New Queen Recordings, Freddie Mercury Biopic While Lambert has appeared with current Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor at numerous shows, this will be the singer's first official tour with the group. The trio first appeared together in 2009 to perform "We Are the Champions" during American Idol before teaming up again in 2011 to perform "The Show Must Go On," "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" at the MTV European Music Awards. In 2012, Lambert joined the group again for a series of shows throughout Europe. In a press conference held this morning at Madison Square Garden, May explained the difference between this tour and the band's collaboration with former Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers. "It was great with Paul, but it came to a natural end," said May. "This happened organically with Adam. People are going to ask whether it's Queen without Freddie. I don't know. We just want to go out there one more time. Adam isn't an imitator.

We're going into new territory." "Adam is the most incredible frontman," added Taylor. "He's a great diva, and I mean that in the best possible way. We need that theatrically." Lambert admitted filling in for original Queen frontman Freddie Mercury again was "daunting," but said, "It's such a treat to get onstage, pay my respects and sing some of the greatest songs ever written." The trio haven't decided on a set list yet, but said they would look at Queen's whole catalog. "Our biggest problem is having too many hits," said May. "We have a very interesting set design. It's big and daring. We're gonna do it to the max." Lambert did admit that he'd love to perform "Dragon Attack" from the band's 1980 album The Game. "It's such a cool groove," said the singer. The upcoming tour's genesis began in earnest at last year's iHeartRadio festival , when the group received critical acclaim for their hit-heavy set. "He does bring his own approach and he has this amazing range, a gymnastic, beautiful tone and he really fits our material so well," Taylor told Rolling Stone of Lambert at the festival.

"He has all the elements – he has the passion, he has the humor, a little bit of camp. And when the shots are down, he has the power. It’s incredible," May added. “I'm completely in awe of the Queen phenomenon,” Lambert said in a statement. “The thought of sharing the stage for a full set in North America is so beautifully surreal. I'm honored to be able to pay my respects to Freddie's memory; he's a personal hero of mine, and I am deeply grateful for the chance to sing such powerful music for fans of this legendary band. I know this tour will be a huge milestone for me, and with the support of Brian, Roger and the rest of the band, I feel like magic will be on display.” After guesting on Glee last year, the singer is set to release his third album , the follow-up to 2012's Trespassing, later this year. His debut album, 2009's For Your Entertainment, earned Lambert a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Tickets will be available starting Friday, March 14th on Live Nation's website and the ticketing company's mobile app.

Queen + Adam Lambert Tour Dates 6/19 Chicago - United Center 6/23 Saskatoon - Credit Union Centre 6/24 Edmonton - Rexall Place 6/28 Vancouver - Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena 7/1 San Jose - SAP Center 7/3 Los Angeles - The Forum 7/5 Las Vegas - The Joint 7/6 Las Vegas - The Joint 7/9 Houston - Toyota Center 7/10 Dallas - American Airlines Center 7/12 Detroit - The Palace of Auburn Hills 7/13 Toronto - Air Canada Centre 7/14 Montreal - Bell Centre 7/16 Philadelphia - Wells Fargo Center 7/17 New York - Madison Square Garden 7/19 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena 7/20 Washington, DC - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Question: Who was lead singer with the group Queen?
Answer: Freddie Mercury